Peer Effects in Disadvantaged Primary Schools: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment

55 Pages Posted: 26 Oct 2013

See all articles by Heather Antecol

Heather Antecol

Claremont McKenna College - Robert Day School of Economics and Finance; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Ozkan Eren

Southern Methodist University (SMU) - Department of Economics

Serkan Ozbeklik

Claremont McKenna College - Robert Day School of Economics and Finance; Claremont McKenna College

Abstract

We examine the effect of peer achievement on students' own achievement and teacher performance in primary schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods using data from a well-executed randomized experiment in seven states. Contrary to the existing literature, we find that the average classroom peer achievement adversely influences own student achievement in math and reading in linear-in-means models. Extending our analysis to take into account the potential non-linearity in the peer effects leads to non-negligible differences along the achievement distribution. We test several models of peer effects to further understand their underlying mechanisms.While we find no evidence to support the monotonicity model and little evidence in favor of the ability grouping model, we find stronger evidence to support the frame of reference and the invidious comparison models. Moreover, we also find that higher achieving classes improve teaching performance in math. Finally, using a simple policy experiment we find suggestive evidence that tracking students by ability potentially benefits students who end up in a low achievement class while hurting students in a high achievement class.

Keywords: peer effects, student achievement, random assignment

JEL Classification: I21, J24

Suggested Citation

Antecol, Heather and Eren, Ozkan and Ozbeklik, Serkan, Peer Effects in Disadvantaged Primary Schools: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment. IZA Discussion Paper No. 7694, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2345611 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2345611

Heather Antecol (Contact Author)

Claremont McKenna College - Robert Day School of Economics and Finance ( email )

500 E. Ninth Street
Claremont, CA 91711
United States

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Ozkan Eren

Southern Methodist University (SMU) - Department of Economics ( email )

Dallas, TX 75275
United States
(214) 768-3957 (Phone)
(214) 768-1821 (Fax)

Serkan Ozbeklik

Claremont McKenna College - Robert Day School of Economics and Finance ( email )

500 E. Ninth St.
Claremont, CA 91711-6420
United States

Claremont McKenna College ( email )

Robert Day School of Economics and Finance
Claremont, CA 91711
United States

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